NEW GRANTS

Pipeline Protestor Imprisoned $4500 for school tuition for four children, ages seven to 13, whose environmental activist father shut down a pipeline to bring attention to the harm perpetrated by the fossil fuel industry. Their dad was charged with a felony and is currently awaiting trial. WI

Teacher Threatened $2550 for childcare and school tuition for two brothers, ages two and 14, whose father was targeted after advocating for fair treatment of a student who reacted physically to another student’s racist comments. Their dad lost his job, was blacklisted and dealt with hate mail and death threats. Garbage was thrown on their lawn and the windows of their home were smashed, so they moved. GA

Indigenous Family Suffers Retaliation $2000 for orthodontia for the 11-year-old girl whose grandmother’s activism to hold her tribal leader accountable for human rights violations resulted in her being denied employment and health insurance from her Nation, resulting in significant hardship. NY

Immigrants’ Rights Advocate Traumatized $1600 for a Targeted Activist Youth (TAY) Development grant[1] and a Carry It Forward (CIF) award[2] for a young activist picked up by ICE on her way home from speaking at a press conference. She was held for 10 days, lost her job and is grappling with the mental health repercussions of her gruesome time in the immigration detention facility. CA

Mom Endures Harassment $1600 for music class and a computer for two siblings, ages three and 16, whose mom chose to go public about her experience of being illegally stopped by a Customs and Border Patrol agent because she was speaking Spanish. She eventually took legal action and faces harassment online and in her hometown for speaking out. Location withheld

Young Activist Fired for Protesting $1000 for a Development grant for the 24-year-old who was let go after participating in a direct action condemning inhumane immigration policy. She faced death threats and extensive online harassment, but continues to advocate for immigrants’ rights and housing justice. DC

Anti-Racist Activist Targeted by Nazis $400 for a language immersion program for the four-year-old daughter of an organizer whose actions put him in the crosshairs of the Alt-Right and the state. The dad undergoes extreme scrutiny by the TSA anytime he flies because he’s on a watch list despite having no convictions, and the family has faced death threats and intimidation including having their home address and family photos posted on Nazi websites. NC

CIVIL LIBERTIES

Activist Moms Forced out of Work $6000 for school tuition, tutoring and summer camp for four children, ages 13 to 17, from two families whose mothers were both fired after advocating for equality and inclusion.  GA, MI

Grandmother Stripped of Nation Standing $5671 for music lessons, drivers education, orthodontia and sports programs for four children, ages 11 to 16, whose grandmother and guardian organized for reform within her Nation’s tribal leadership.  She was forced out of her job and had her services and benefits as a Nation member revoked. IN

Navajo Mom Faces Attacks $2800 for music classes for the two kids, ages 12 and 16, whose mother has fought the federal government to cancel the trademarks of a sports team whose name is a racial slur. She has been intimidated, threatened and stalked. She also lost her job and their home. AZ

Father’s Career Sabotaged $1300 for sports equipment and programming for the 11-year-old son whose father, an independent journalist, was fired and blacklisted for expressing progressive views and covering controversial topics.  MN

RACIAL JUSTICE

Families Targeted for Anti-Racist Activism $13,500 for summer camps and martial arts classes for eight kids, ages seven to 14, from four families, whose fathers faced repression for their racial justice organizing. Two lost jobs, one was arrested more than 40 times, others faced surveillance, arrest and harassment. CO, GA

Families Intimidated for Organizing $2950 for summer camps and two CIF awards for three kids, ages 16 to 21, from two families. Both moms were targeted by local officials; one was attacked and the other had to relocate twice due to her roles in several high-profile racial justice campaigns. CA, GA 

Advocates Blacklisted $2900 for sports and educational programming for three children, ages eight to 17, from two families, whose mothers were both targeted for their anti-racist organizing in the workplace, fired without cause and have been prevented from working in their fields. GA, OK

Teen Bullied for Taking a Knee $2024 for a computer for the 17-year-old varsity athlete who has been kneeling in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick. She changed schools, but continues to face harassment by a former coach, whose false claims have put college scholarships and admissions in jeopardy. IL 

Family Threatened by the KKK $2000 for school tuition for the 17-year-old daughter of an activist who received death threats from the Klan for her efforts to desegregate a public housing complex. OR

IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS

Father Deported $4600 for summer programs and a CIF award for three children, ages 12 to 20. ICE detained and deported their father despite his pending case in an apparent act of retaliation for his years of leadership on the frontlines of the immigrants’ rights movement. Location withheld  

Dad Targeted while in Sanctuary $4589 for recreational and educational activities for three children, ages 10 to 16, whose father is an immigrants’ rights leader. Since being denied a stay of deportation and entering sanctuary, DHS and ICE officials have escalated threats and pressure against him. Location withheld   

Mom Faces Retaliation for Immigrants’ Rights Advocacy $3699 for childcare and sports for the two sons, ages three and 10, whose mother became a vocal activist from sanctuary. The boys’ father, previously unknown to ICE, was detained in probable retaliation for his wife’s activism, while she and her support network continue to face persecution by ICE. Location withheld

Family Harassed for Entering Sanctuary $1031 for after-school programming for the two boys, ages five and 12, whose mother chose to take them into sanctuary with her after receiving a deportation order. She was hassled by local political leaders, but remains an advocate for immigrants’ rights. Location withheld  

ENVIRONMENTAL & ANIMAL RIGHTS

Parents Fight to Protect Environment $16,500 for a broad range of programs for 11 children, ages three to 18, from five families.  Some parents were beaten and arrested while marching against environmental racism, others were attacked and/or imprisoned for their community organizing work. CA, DC, GA, NY

Anti-Environmental Racism Activists Targeted $4500 for tutoring, sports, dance and music lessons for three kids, ages 11-15, from three families whose parents and guardians are fighting processing plants being placed in their predominantly black communities. A lawsuit filed by one company names one of the women, and all three have been harassed by local officials. AL, PA

Families Fear Physical Harm $3900 for childcare and physical therapy for two sons, ages five and nine, from two families, who have faced intimidation and violent threats for their work to protect the environment. OR, LA

Environmental Lawyer Survives Assassination Attempt $3584 for music programs for two kids, ages 13 and 17, whose father lives in exile in the U.S. He faced threats to his life for his advocacy work in his home country for rural communities’ right to control natural resources autonomously. MA

Activities for Children of Native American Environmental Activist $3000 for music classes, summer camp and travel to cultural ceremonies for the 16-year-old daughter and 17-year-old son whose father was jailed for destroying traps set for mountain lions. AZ, MI

GENDER EQUALITY, LGBTQ, & REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Daughters Assaulted $2000 for school tuition for the 12 and 17-year-old siblings whose family had to flee their home country after their mother and two sisters were brutalized for the mom’s work against female genital mutilation. NY

Mother Continues Family Legacy of Activism $1700 for a computer for the 19-year-old son whose mother, also the child of a targeted activist, has worked for children's, women's and poor people's rights. She has been arrested, beaten, harassed and jailed for her activism. OR

Second-Generation Human Rights Activist Attacked $1600 for a TAY Development grant and a CIF award for the 24-year-old unlawfully detained by her home country’s government after speaking at the UN against female genital mutilation. She is currently seeking asylum in the U.S. while continuing her studies and advocacy. MA

Mother Threatened with Loss of Son $1500 for equine therapy for the 11-year-old daughter whose mother, an LGBTQ rights activist, was threatened by the state with the removal of her child because of her organizing. OR 

Mom Fights to End Torture $395 for volleyball camp for the 14-year-old daughter whose mother provided advocacy and assistance to women whose rights had been violated in their home country. She was detained and arrested before seeking refuge in the U.S. IL

HUMAN RIGHTS

Mother Beaten $3300 for music lessons and gymnastics for two sisters, ages 14 and 15, whose mother organized against government corruption in her home nation. She came to the U.S. after the military harassed and assaulted her. IL

Families Forced to Flee $2500 for summer camp, after-school programming and two CIF awards for two kids, ages 11 and 22, from two families, whose parents were forced to leave their home countries after having their lives threatened for their human rights advocacy work. IL

Activist, Family Attacked $2000 for tutoring and summer camp for the 12-year-old son whose father was driven out of his home country by officials opposed to his efforts to end political violence. He was harassed and jailed, family members were beaten, and the son was threatened. The boy lives in the U.S. with his stepmother now while his father continues his activism abroad. MA

Community Advocate Tortured $888 for recreational activities for the nine-year-old boy whose grandmother was detained with her daughter in their home country for organizing to provide services for local people. She was tortured before fleeing with her daughter and grandson to the US, where she cares for them. IL

LABOR & ECONOMIC JUSTICE

Moms Fired for Advocacy $5267 for school tuition and sports programs for three kids, ages seven to 11, from two families whose mothers were both fired for organizing on the job. One fought for fair working practices and the other on behalf of students with special needs. GA, MS

Father Disabled by Police Beating $4500 for childcare for three siblings, ages eight to nine, whose father, a whistleblower for worker and consumer safety, was laid off and harassed, then arrested and attacked by police. Despite multiple surgeries, he is incapacitated and partially paralyzed. MA 

Parents Threatened for Fighting Poverty $3280 for childcare, a theater program and a CIF award for three boys, ages three to 18, from two families, whose parents organized on behalf of low-income communities. One parent had to flee her home state and the other still faces intimidation tactics by law enforcement. GA, TX

Mother Organized After Katrina $2700 for orthodontia and educational expenses for the two kids, ages 12 and 16, whose mother helped lead a movement to assert public housing residents’ rights to return home after the storm. In retaliation, she was harassed and jailed on false assault charges. LA 

Union Leader Imprisoned $2000 for martial arts classes for the 15-year-old son whose father fought for workers’ rights, co-founded an immigrant advocacy collective and spoke out against the Afghanistan and Iraq occupations.  He was arrested on politically motivated charges and has been in prison since 2012. FL

Food Justice Organizer Evicted $1500 for educational support and summer camp for the seven-year-old son whose mother opened a restaurant offering meals for the homeless, space for organizers and jobs for underserved youth. She lost everything when the owners of the building illegally ended her lease after expressing disapproval of her clientele. GA

PEACE

Children and Parents Working Together for Peace $17,702 for music lessons, childcare, summer camp, and a CIF award for 14 children, ages one to 19, from six families who are members of pacifist communities.  Parents and teenage children have engaged in peaceful anti-war protests and many of the parents have been imprisoned for civil disobedience.  ME, NY, NC, VA, WA